Suppression of Senescence in Normal Human Fibroblasts by Introduction of Dominant-Negative p53 Mutants or Human Papilloma Virus Type 16 E6 Protein

Abstract

  Transfection of nearly senesced human fibroblasts with plasmids encoding HPV16 E6 protein or dominant-negative p53 mutants greatly increased their colony-forming ability. Isolated colonies with these plasmids showed extension of lifespan compared to those with a control plasmid. These data demonstrate that p53 plays a major role in senescence in normal human fibroblasts.